Truboost = BAD BUSINESS

[Kenrik]

This is why I do all my own work... sounds like a truly crappy company

[DoriftWolf]

I'm not saying that I don't believe slideshow but....

What is not to believe? I own the shop that now has the pleasure of going thru slideshow's car and figuring out what was done incorrectly or even dangerously.The list is now up to 3 pages concerning parts substitutions, ommissions or downright shoddy work. I could not imagine allowing work like this out of my sight, no, scratch that.. I plain wouldn't make these careless "mistakes" in the first place.

We will freely answer any questions posed to us about this incident without bias to anything but the facts.

Now would be a good time for someone from TruBoost to chime in, or feel free to PM me, or email at the address in the sig, or better yet, respond to slideshow's attempts to make contact. This customer has been thru the wringer and spent a boatload of money with your company, only to be cheated out of the majority of it.

I must say, considering the level of modification that this car has attained, it was foolish for a relatively small shop to not do right by him. This customer had so many parts to install when he delivered the car to me that he had to remove the passenger seat to fit them all. This car could very well have been a flagship vehicle for your business once properly completed. Only the staff of TruBoost knows the reason and motives, we all welcome your explanation.

Jeff Owner, EPiK [email protected]@epikmotorsports.com

[DoriftWolf]

on the upside slideshow I love what you did with your bumper, I might do it one of these days

Hehe.. slideshow, you should see the front of your car right now.. since the factory front bumper is not on it at the moment (fabbing intercooler plumbing) we set the Nismo 400r front bumper from the R32 in front of it. It's even the same color and looks SO hot. Makes me want to get some r32 fenders and throw on my blue s13 sitting out back!

Jeff

[Deftec]

Like everyone else said...about now is a good time for somebody from TruBoost to come and put their input in.

[srdrps13]

yehh looks sweet.. i thought about doing it too but dont wanna eff up my bumper .. howd u get it so perfect.. let me know

[TruboostPerformance]

Hello all, no one, or one company is perfect, we have all had issues, and we resolve them to make everyone as happy as possible. Our input to any remarks that come to our shop is we have done over 20 swaps on just 240sx's not to even go into all the others, and we never do anyone wrong in anyway shape or form on purpose at all. We stand behind our work 100%, and if we say parts are backorderd, they are plain and simple. You can ask "slideshow" himself who called the manufacture of items that were waiting on for months upon months, and he can verify himself that everystep of any backordered , defective products were true. As for any pictures we see, I to the best of my knowlege know the car was taken unfinshed not put together fully at all, so anything done else we have no knowlege of. As for blowing anyone off via email, phone, our shop is no where near empty as neither is our waiting list. Our staff is very small, which has just been changed in the last weeks to improve on customer service and sales. We will do anything to make anything right, you can only lead a horse to water, not make it drink so to speak. Now we have had issues with customers before, mostly the ones that drop the car want tons of parts then do not want to pay for them, expect us to pay all the money for the parts then wait for the customer to pay that's when cars sit. Thanks,TruBoost Staff
Modified by TruboostPerformance at 6:21 AM 10/12/2005

[TruboostPerformance]

yehh looks sweet.. i thought about doing it too but dont wanna eff up my bumper .. howd u get it so perfect.. let me know

We cut the bumper for him, it turned out just as he wanted, great.

[DoriftWolf]

Hello all, no one, or one company is perfect, we have all had issues, and we resolve them to make everyone as happy as possible. Our input to any remarks that come to our shop is we have done over 20 swaps on just 240sx's not to even go into all the others, and we never do anyone wrong in anyway shape or form on purpose at all. We stand behind our work 100%....Thanks,TruBoost Staff

Ahem.. okay. So you are willing to stand behind a product that was supposedly in running condition, but only on video, wherein the cams were not set to TDC properly on installation, the intercooler plumbing of this "running" car never saw a file to remove the flash left over after it was chop-sawed..on the hot or the cold pipe.. speaking of the hotpipe.. what is that? A silicone knee? Does your shop own a welder..a grinder..a file? The turbo oil return line consisting of 5/8" heater hose, resting on the steering column. Said turbo kit being an "Ebay Special" that goes for $799.00 BIN and includes a cheap stainless manifold (already cracked), a Tial copy wastegate that is proven to fail and a front mount intercooler.. hmm.. he already has a GReddy VSPL fmic. Wonder where the other one is? And the other $2000.00 that he paid for the "Enjuku" turbo kit.

Okay, so maybe your shop is lacking in fabrication. How about simple electrical theory. Who reading this would attempt to run an entire vehicle electrical system on 8ga. wire to locate the battery in the trunk? Furthermore, this disaster waiting to happen was ziptied under the car to the fuel hard lines and brought back up thru the rear floorpan with no grommet whatsoever. One of he visitors to my shop, upon seeing this, joked that the car had "one hell of a fuel line de-icing system". It's no laughing matter..it was undoubtedly dangerous and irresponsible.

I find it hard to believe that you would wholeheartedly back this product as your best work.. I would surely hope not. You can use the argument that the vehicle was taken in unfinished condition, but I have to bring up that you told this customer that the car was running at one time during it's stay. That means all the flash that was left on that piping, all those little aluminum shavings that you can break off with your finger tips, has potentially gone thru this motor. I hope at least that it may have gotten trapped in the oil by some stroke of good luck or in the oil filter since the one that he was charged $20.00 for (on the invoice!) that never made it onto the car either.. the Japanese used PitWork oil filter is still in place... as are the old spark plugs. You claim to have over 20 SR20 swaps to your shop's credit. How many swaps do you do that you dont change the oil? The spark plugs? How about the wiring? MAF wires are to be shielded cable. Anyone that can read the internet sites can tell you the easiest way to go about it is to strip the KA harness for the wire to lengthen the MAF. Not use 18ga wire that can pick up any kind of intererence available, and then not even loom it. Okay, I'll give you that much.. the car was taken before it was finished.. Unfortunately I could go on with more details, but my intention is not to slam this company, but to let them know that this type of work is what gives shops a bad name..quickly. Your reputation is only as good as the worst job you ever allow to leave your garage bay, because that is invariably the one that everyone is going to see. Murphy's Law.. Karma. Call it what you want. I'm a firm believer.

And if you want to talk about credentials.. I have been in SC for 7 years in January, before that I owned a shop in my hometown in MD for 2 yrs and have lost count of the # of swaps I have personally completed in the past 10 years. The # is easily 500+ Nissan, Honda, Dodge, Toyota/Lexus, Mitsubishi and Mazda swaps or special projects to my personal credit. Oh and if you want to dig, the shop name is my last name in reverse.. how is that for standing by your work.

Lets come to a solution on this issue. This is not a personal attack, but a request for an explanation of why the car was "built" in this manner and allowed to be run.

Jeff KipeEPiK Motorsportshttp://www.EPiKMotorsports.com

[email protected]

[slideshow]

You can ask "slideshow" himself who called the manufacture of items that were waiting on for months upon months, and he can verify himself that everystep of any backordered , defective products were true.

Yes, I was told that the back order time was a few weeks to a month on most of the parts. That is no excuse for the car sitting for close to a whole year and still not seeing some of the ordered parts.

As for "defective" parts, I assume you are referring to the AEM EMS. AEM told me that you had ordered the wrong EMS for my application (S13 Red top EMS for a S13 Black top SR20) and that was the only reason why it wasn't working properly or at all. But yet that day I showed up to get the car (that over the phone you said was up, running, and ready) And when I arrived was told the EMS had "lost the tune file". The AEM tech over the phone told me that not only was that impossible, but they had been trying to contact the shop to get the proper information on the car but the phone along with voice messages were going unanswered. AEM then sent the correct EMS to the wrong address. Turns out TruBoost up and moved with out letting me or AEM know about it. The EMS was attempted to be delivered at the old shop 3 times then sat at the post office for a few weeks waiting on someone to claim it. When no one did, the EMS went right back to AEM to sit and wait. The whole time I didn't even know where my car or the new shop was. I had to find out from a friend where the new shop was then notify AEM. Something that TruBoost had no excuse not to do in the beginning. Just things like that make me question the customer service end. That alone added another month to the time my car just sat in the shop waiting on these "defective" parts.

I to the best of my knowlege know the car was taken unfinshed not put together fully at all, so anything done else we have no knowlege of.

You told me the only thing left to do was to tune the car. You said it repeatedly! You even sent me a video of you guys revving the car up and fluttering the blow off valve. If the car was "not put together fully at all" why sit there and tear the motor up. Also if it wasn’t close to completion how could you have the audacity to send me a video of you guys tearing up my car that I trusted you with and just dumped grands into. Just doesn't make sense to me, chief.

We will do anything to make anything right, you can only lead a horse to water, not make it drink so to speak.

That's odd, I made multiple attempts to try to settle things that you just blew off with out any consideration. I was even willing to let all the poorly installed parts be forgotten about. I wrote you asking to simply give me what I belived that I had payed you for parts wise. I paid for Nismo/Tomei Injectors and got some Holleys, Paid top dollar for a quality turbo kit, and recived an ebay special, Paid for an HKS down pipe, got the old home brew, paid for new spark plugs and oil filter and just got stiffed.

In the e-mail I even said the only thing that was really getting to me was the turbo kit and injectors. Saying that I would gladly bring just the old turbo kit and injectors in for a trade for the proper parts or a refund and I would let everything else be forgotten. But no, I was patient through so much confusion from truboost but turn around and get treated like someone tying to get a free lunch. Being told its my fault because I picked the car up that way and there is nothing that could be done about it now. But picking the car up before it was ready really had nothing to do with the faulty/cheep substitution parts that were installed on the car.


Modified by slideshow at 4:30 AM 10/12/2005

[DeatschWerks]

.... Greg DESPISES shady sponsors.

I can say for sure that Greg checked me out before I became a sponsor. I was surprised because most forums just want a check. Greg took the time to visit with me to discuss not only how Nico could help my business but also how I could help the community. As a sponsor, this kind of thing really bothers me. Sponsors should be companies that you don't have to "check-out" before doing business with. Things happen but this kind of blatent, repeated bad business reflects poorly on all of us (sponsors)

I'm confident Greg will take action if need be.

BTW - I also know of an "exhibit C" on TrueBoost that will be added to the list very soon. It is equally appauling. He is just waiting to get what is left of his project back to him before posting up his problems with them.

[AZhitman]

And if you want to talk about credentials.. I have been in SC for 7 years in January, before that I owned a shop in my hometown in MD for 2 yrs and have lost count of the # of swaps I have personally completed in the past 10 years. The # is easily 500+ Nissan, Honda, Dodge, Toyota/Lexus, Mitsubishi and Mazda swaps or special projects to my personal credit.

Jeff - I appreciate your views on this matter, as well as your involvement in the project car. However, I gotta remind you that this thread is for current or former customers of the company in question - just to keep it fair.

Also, it sounds like you might like to do some promoting of your own

Get in touch, let's see about getting EPiK on board.

Thanks all, carry on.

[slideshow]

BTW - I also know of an "exhibit C" on TrueBoost that will be added to the list very soon. It is equally appauling.

Ok cool, be sure to have him share his experience or at least get in contact with me. We can try to get some sort of class action suit started.

[srdrps13]

here's my complaint.. still isn't solved

zerothread?id=130647

[slideshow]

here's my complaint.. still isn't solved

zerothread?id=130647

Well, I guess this is how truboost is going to continue to do business. There are 2 upset customers waiting for an answer, so they make 1 post claiming they'll "do anything to make anything right" and dissapear. I can't really say I'm too surprised.

[srdrps13]

they finally made the problem right.... 5 long months

[slideshow]

Well I'm glad that some good has come of this, and that you finaly got your refund srdrps13.

I really don't understand why truboost is refusing to clear the issue of the part swaping up with me!?! If my car was indeed "unfinished" then why didn't they refund the money that I had given for the finished parts!?

I mean you can clearly see in the invoice I was waaaay over charged for an XS power kit.



and this is what was on the car when I picked it up



Hmmm...that mani and turbo look oddly familar don't they. Probalby seen them here.

http://www.xs-power.com/monthly-special-turbos.htm

they are comonly popping up on ebay going for about $500 a kit. I Really don't understand why I was charged so much for the kit, but if like truboost said it was indeed an unfinished kit that was holding a spot for the turbo kit that I have already paid for and that was SUPOSED to be on the car then why have I never recived the merchandice or the proper refund?

[DoriftWolf]

G

Jeff - I appreciate your views on this matter, as well as your involvement in the project car. However, I gotta remind you that this thread is for current or former customers of the company in question - just to keep it fair.

Also, it sounds like you might like to do some promoting of your own

Get in touch, let's see about getting EPiK on board.

Thanks all, carry on.

Greg, Derek and I are looking at our financial situation but I think we may be able to get something going. We have a lot to offer the NICO community in technical knowledge and parts availability as well. We are regional WDs for SARD Racing products, Largus sway bars (D1 Sponsor) and a few other Japanese market exclusive lines.

On another note.. we hope to have Slideshow's car done soon to add some positivity to his situation. This car is hooked up to the hilt!

JeffEPiK Motorsports

[HybridOne]

this is sad.

hopefully everything gets worked out between you and truboost.

i hear they have a fast mustang that wants to race you.

[slideshow]

Haha, yeah, I'll bet they do. They have a lot of stangs and SRT-4s that want to harm my lil ole 240. Thanks to the work they did, unfourtantly, I won't be able to race anything any time soon.

[srdrps13]

man.. that seriously sucks for you bro.. i dont think you're beating anything with what they did to ur car.. xs power turbo??? mann hope they do give you everything you payed for. im just happy i got my refund and didn't have to sell my exhaust.

[slideshow]

Yeah, Untill I get the right parts on the car I won't even be driving the car, don't even want to think about racing anything.

But I'm really glad that they gave you your refund. After you told me all the good things about OUR exhaust I know you would have hated to see it go just because of truboost.

I am still waiting to hear something from truboost about the part substitutions and getting the parts that I paid them for. Haven't recived a PM, IM, e-mail, hate mail, Anthrax letter, nothing! I guess they are just going to ignore me....again.

[DoriftWolf]

Still nothing from TruBoost?

[slideshow]

Nope, nothing at all. Not even an attempt at an explination.

[PoorManQ45]

This is very unfortunate.

Slideshow: Did you have to sign anything to get your car? If so hopefully you didn't accept the car as is without a change in consideration in the contract(was there a contract to begin with?)

[JDMEnthused]

Thanks for the heads up.. i may even have to pay Epik a visit, seems like a right nice shop.

[Fenvy]

also had problem with truboost, in march of 2005 I bought a blitz sbc-id for 400 something

it came missing the dual solenoid, I called derek and he said he'll look for it one week later he said he'll contact the carrier. On third week he said truboost is doing an investigation. I forgot what he said on the 4th week but by 5th week I did a charge back and shipped the incomplete item back to them.

Truboost made no attempt to remedy my problem. They didn't bother to contact my by phone or email until I did a chargeback, then they left a message on my phone with vulgar words and threats.

I can't seem to find the original thread but some nico member might remember.

[crzycav86]

Alright.. well it seems clear to me that truboost is just another boost-designs pos sponsor.

TIME TO KICK 'EM TO THE CURB!

[slideshow]

This is very unfortunate.

Slideshow: Did you have to sign anything to get your car? If so hopefully you didn't accept the car as is without a change in consideration in the contract(was there a contract to begin with?)

No, I didn't sign anything to get the car, I just went and picked it up after I was tired of being mis-lead by truboost.

I did however have truboost sign a contract saying that if the car wasn't finished by a certiant date that they would wave the labor charge. period. But not only did they let that date go by but I still waited a few monts after the set date to go pick the car up. By then I had just assumed they were no longer working on my car.

And on a side note the main reason I was so quick to go pick the car up in this horrible condition was because I was told by derek that the car was finished mechanicaly and just needed to have the EMS tuned. I go pick the car up and notice all the slack work done and the missing parts and they tell me there is nothing they can do because I picked my car up "early". Derek later tells me if I would have left the car with truboost a little longer it would have been "finished to my specifications". I guess by then he had forgoten all the times he lied saying the car was done and just need some tuning. I also guess he knew the bad parts were on the car he was just waiting for me to call him on it.

Not to sure what kinda of tuning they were doing but they even went so far as to send me a video of my car being reved up and fluttering the blow off saying that the car is finished mechanicaly and was being "tuned". When I picked the car up even after months of "tuning" they couldn't even get the car stared. They told me that maybe the battery was dead or that maybe they had tuned the car till it ran out of gas. I had to tow the car to Epik where I found out the timing was waaay off so now I have to pay to get a compression test not to mention getting the valvetrain checked to make sure they didn't bend any of thoes brand new ferrea valves that may or may not be installed. I have now officially paid for everything that truboost was sposed to do twice.

As you can see truboost still hasn't made any attempts at clearing anything up with me or the Nico community. Seems to me like they don't care as long as they have your money. Not a shop I would trust or recomend to my worst enemy.

-Trey T.


Modified by slideshow at 6:52 PM 11/12/2005

[slideshow]

Just got off the phone with a buddy of mine who's car went in the shop about 3 weeks after mine. Big surpise, he is still wating for truboost to finish up the work almost 2 years later!! I'll see if I can get him to post his story.

[Nismochick240]

whats going on w/ truboost now? have you talked to them? are you thinkin of takin them to court? if you have all of your reciepts from trubooks and epik you should have a sold case. take pictures SHOWING the parts they put on your car AND find pics of the parts that WERE SUPPOSED to go the car... should be able to get your money back! let me know how it goes!